Should You Shift to Neutral When Parking an Automatic Car?
2 Answers
If you are waiting at a red light or only stopping for a couple of minutes, you can shift to neutral, but you must keep your foot on the brake, and it's best to engage the handbrake. If you are parking the car and leaving it unattended for an extended period, it is not recommended to leave it in neutral; instead, shift to P (Park). Parking Steps: The correct parking procedure is as follows: First, press the brake pedal, shift from D (Drive) to N (Neutral), then engage the mechanical handbrake or electronic parking brake. This step ensures that all the force is absorbed by the handbrake. Next, shift from N to P (Park), and then turn off the engine. This is the proper parking procedure. Parking on a Slope: When parking on a slope, it is even more important to follow the above steps. If you shift directly from D to P while parking on a slope, it can cause significant damage to the transmission because the locking mechanism of the transmission will bear excessive force.
After driving for so many years, I feel that automatic transmissions basically don't require shifting to neutral when parking. At red lights in the city, I'm used to staying in D gear and holding the brake—the vehicle's built-in design can handle such brief stops without harming the transmission. Shifting to neutral might be unnecessary and could even make the car prone to accidental movement, especially on uphill sections, posing greater safety risks. Moreover, frequent gear changes increase mechanical wear, affecting component lifespan in the long run. Modern cars even have start-stop systems for smart fuel savings and convenience—why bother shifting gears? Developing good habits for simplicity and safety is what truly matters.
